This paper attempts to briefly examine the level of readiness/preparedness of Pacific Island countries (PICs) to advance the process of incorporating gender-responsive budget initiatives into national policies and public expenditure management systems. The paper touches on the "how to" mechanisms for progress based on the recommendations of the Ninth Triennial Conference of Pacific Women in 2004. It was jointly written by Suhas Joshi, Public Financial Management Advisor, the Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC) and Sanjesh Naidu, Economics Advisor, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).